AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF LAREDO

Dear Laredoans:

This is a very emotional day for me. It has been a great ride, particularly the first seven years. The citizens of Laredo embraced hockey and the Bucks in a spectacular way. To make the Conference Finals 6 consecutive years is almost unheard of. To make the Finals 4 consecutive years (and one game away from it being 5 consecutive years) is almost unheard of. But the 2 Championships, particularly the first one will always be special!! The sellouts, enthusiasm, and support will always be special to me. Sometimes I wonder if we achieved too much too soon. It seemed to become the expectation of Laredoans to achieve that level of success. I believe the economic downturn of the last few years certainly was a factor.

I am sure that there are things that ownership and management could have done better. I assure you that we tried every credible business or marketing idea for the Bucks to be able to continue.

I would first like to thank the City of Laredo, particularly former Mayor Betty Flores and her council and staff to make hockey in Laredo a reality in the first place. I would also like to thank the City Manager, Carlos Villarreal, along with his Staff, especially Cynthia Collazo, in their efforts for hockey to be able to continue. They always provided us everything in reason that we could ask for to continue with the Bucks.

I would like to thank so many, who have been a part of this journey. Many thanks to Terry Ruskowski and Kiki DeAyala for having the courage to build this crazy idea. To Marc Solis, then John Beckelhymer for their skills and effort in taking it to a new level.

Much gratitude to Jennifer Beckelhymer, Nicole Kupaks, and Donald Thomson for leading the effort to “make it work”, when times were challenging.

And especially the players: Chris Grenville, Paul Elliott, Steve Simoes, James Hiebert, Adam Rivet, Jeff Bes, Serge Dube, and so many others. You will never be forgotten.

And lastly, to Gustavo Hernandez, who did everything in his power to “save the Bucks”. I salute him for his efforts, If a local citizen had come into the picture a few years earlier, it would have made all the difference.

I look forward to many more years of friendships with Laredoans through the continued successes of Laredo Energy.